U.S. patent number 7,362,968 [Application Number 11/062,623] was granted by the patent office on 2008-04-22 for combination camera and dsc lens control method using the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kuie-sup Kim.
United States Patent |
7,362,968 |
Kim |
April 22, 2008 |
Combination camera and DSC lens control method using the same
Abstract
A combination camera and a DSC lens control method using the
same, including a lens position check unit for checking a position
of a DSC lens if electric power is applied, and a switching unit
for switching the DSC lens to a closed state if the lens position
check unit decides that the DSC lens is open. Thus, if the power is
applied in the DVC mode after the combination camera is turned off
when the DSC lens has been open, the combination camera can
efficiently switch the DSC lens to the closed state to thereby
eliminate a user's inconvenience of using the DVC picture-taking
mode during the open state of the DSC lens, or the inconvenience of
switching the mode to the DSC image-capturing mode to close the DSC
lens and then switching the mode to the DVC picture-capturing mode
for use.
Inventors: |
Kim; Kuie-sup (Suwon-si,
KR) |
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
(Suwon-si, KR)
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Family
ID: |
34825203 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/062,623 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050200708 A1 |
Sep 15, 2005 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 10, 2004 [KR] |
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10-2004-0016055 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
396/280; 396/429;
396/348; 348/220.1; 348/E5.043 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B
17/16 (20130101); H04N 5/23245 (20130101); H04N
5/23203 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03B
7/26 (20060101); G03B 17/48 (20060101); H04N
5/225 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;396/301,348,349,429,280,333 ;348/64,220.1,372 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1 422 932 |
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May 2004 |
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EP |
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1 480 452 |
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Nov 2004 |
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EP |
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09 186913 |
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Jul 1997 |
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JP |
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1996-0001856 |
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Jan 1996 |
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KR |
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1999-0049031 |
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Jul 1999 |
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KR |
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Other References
Grunin, Lori; "Samsung SCD5000 DuoCam", Jul. 22, 2003, CNET
Reviews, 3 pages.
(http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/samsung-scd5000-duocam-
/4505-6500.sub.--7-20791289.html). cited by examiner.
|
Primary Examiner: Perkey; W. B.
Assistant Examiner: Suthar; Rishi
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Roylance, Abrams, Berdo and
Goodman, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A combination camera combining both a digital still camera (DSC)
and a digital video camera (DVC), comprising: a lens position check
unit for checking a position of a DSC lens if electric power is
applied; and a switching unit for switching the DSC lens to a
closed state if the lens position check unit decides that the DSC
lens is open when the combination camera is in a DVC picture-taking
mode.
2. The combination camera as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: an operation mode decision unit for deciding if an
operation mode comprises that of the DSC or the DVC, wherein the
switching unit switches the DSC lens to the closed state if the
operation mode decision unit decides that the operation mode
comprises that of the DVC.
3. The combination camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
switching unit turns off the electric power to the DSC and the DSC
lens if the operation mode decision unit decides that the operation
mode comprises that of the DVC.
4. A DSC lens control method for a combination camera combining
both a digital still camera (DSC) and a digital video camera (DVC),
comprising the steps of: (a) checking a position of a DSC lens if
electric power is applied to the combination camera; and (b)
switching the DSC lens to a closed state if the DSC lens is decided
to be open when the combination camera is in a DVC picture taking
mode.
5. The DSC lens control method as claimed in claim 4, further
comprising the step of: (c) deciding if an operation mode comprises
that of the DSC or the DVC, wherein the step (b) further comprises
the step of switching the DSC lens to the closed state if the step
(c) decides that the operation mode comprises that of the DVC.
6. The DSC lens control method as claimed in claim 5, further
comprising the step of: (d) turning off the electric power applied
to the DSC and the DSC lens if the step (c) decides that the
operation mode comprises that of the DVC.
7. A combination camera combining both a digital still camera (DSC)
and a digital video camera (DVC), comprising: a storage unit for
storing an open or a closed state of a DSC lens while in an
operation mode comprising that of the DSC; a state decision unit
for deciding the state of the DSC lens through the storage unit if
electric power is applied while in an operation mode comprising
that of the DVC; and a switching unit for switching the DSC lens to
a closed state if the state decision unit decides that the DSC lens
is open.
8. The combination camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
storage unit comprises an electrically erasable and programmable
ROM (EEPROM).
9. The combination camera as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
switching unit is configured to switch the DSC lens to the closed
state by applying the electric power to the DSC.
10. A DSC lens control method for a combination camera combining
both a digital still camera (DSC) and a digital video camera (DVC),
comprising the steps of: (a) storing an open or a closed state of a
DSC lens while in an operation mode comprising that of the DSC of
the combination camera; (b) deciding the state of the DSC lens
based on information stored in the step (a) if electric power is
applied while in an operation mode comprising that of the DVC; and
(c) switching the DSC lens to the closed state if the step (b)
decides that the DSC lens is open.
11. The DSC lens control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
step (a) further comprises the step of storing the open or closed
state of the DSC lens in an EEPROM.
12. The DSC lens control method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
step (c) further comprises the step of switching the DSC lens to
the closed state by applying the electric power to the DSC.
13. The combination camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the lens
position check unit checks an open state of the DSC lens by
checking whether the DSC lens is zoomed in or out, and if the DSC
lens is determined to be zoomed in, the lens position check unit
decides that the DSC lens is open, and if the DSC lens is
determined to be zoomed out, the lens position check unit checks
whether an iris of the DSC lens is open or closed.
14. The DSC lens control method as claimed in claim 4, further
comprising the steps of: checking an open state of the DSC lens by
checking whether the DSC lens is zoomed in or out, and if the DSC
lens is determined to be zoomed in, deciding that the DSC lens is
open, and if the DSC lens is determined to be zoomed out, checking
whether an iris of the DSC lens is open or closed.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) of
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0016055 filed on Mar. 10,
2004, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combination camera and a digital
still camera (DSC) lens control method using the same. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a combination camera
and a DSC lens control method capable of switching the DSC lens to
a closed state when electric power cuts off while the DSC lens is
open.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a digital still camera (DSC) converts an image focused
through a lens into a digital signal, and stores the digital signal
in a recording medium such as a hard disc, a memory card, and other
such devices. That is, the digital still camera converts a taken
image into a digital signal, stores the taken image in a recording
medium such as a hard disc, a memory card, and other such devices,
rather than recording the taken image in film, and even when
transferring the stored image to a digital device such as a
computer, directly sends the stored image to the digital device
without digitization of the stored image through a scanner or the
like. In particular, the DSC has a high compatibility with a
personal computer to thereby facilitate the editing and
manipulation of the transferred image. Further, the DSC has a
structure similar to general cameras, so one can easily carry the
DSC with him or her. Such a DSC typically has a lens unit, a memory
unit, a signal conversion unit, a display unit, and so forth, and
is mainly used to capture still images due to the limited capacity
of a recording medium for storing images. That is, in general, the
DSC can have a function enabling one to take moving pictures for a
limited period of time, but not for a substantially long period of
time. In order to overcome such a drawback to the DSC, the digital
video camera (DVC) is more widely used for recording moving
pictures of an object on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape
or a hard disc, and reproducing the recorded moving pictures.
The DVC typically has a lens unit, a signal conversion unit, a deck
unit for recording and reproducing taken moving pictures, a display
unit, and so forth. Further, the DVC has a microphone unit and a
speaker unit, and can record moving pictures in the built-in
recording medium for over one hour. However, the DVC can also be
used to capture still images, but the captured still images are not
as good in quality when compared to ones taken by the DSC.
Accordingly, the DVC is mainly used to take moving pictures.
Further, since the DVC has more functions and a more complicated
structure than the DSC, the DVC can be relatively bulky in size and
higher in price.
Thus, one currently has to purchase both products to use the
respective functions of the DSC and DVC as stated above, which
requires consumers to spend more money as well as creating
inconveniences since one has to carry both products to use all of
the functions of both the DSC and DVC.
In order to overcome such problems, the DSC-combined DVC, which is
a device combining the DSC with the DVC in one case, has been
developed and is referred to as `digital camera/camcorder`,
`combination camera`, or `DuoCam` for short.
However, the above combination camera needs a separate method for
switching the DSC lens to a closed state, since, if the electric
power of the combination camera cuts off when the DSC lens is open
and is then applied in the DVC mode, the combination camera still
has an open DSC lens, even when used in the DVC mode.
Accordingly, a need exists for a control method that is capable of
switching a DSC lens to a closed state when electric power is cut
off while the DSC lens is open.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed in order to solve the
above drawbacks and other problems associated with the conventional
arrangement. An aspect of the present invention is to provide a
combination camera and a DSC lens control method using the same
that is capable of switching the DSC lens to a closed state when
electric power of the combination camera is applied in the DVC mode
after the power is turned off while the DSC lens of the combination
camera is open.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages are substantially
realized by providing a combination camera combining both a digital
still camera (DSC) and a digital video camera (DVC), comprising a
lens position check unit for checking a position of a DSC lens if
electric power is applied, and a switching unit for switching the
DSC lens to a closed state if the lens position check unit decides
that the DSC lens is open.
Preferably, the combination camera further comprises an operation
mode decision unit for deciding an operation mode of the DSC or the
DVC, wherein the switching unit switches the DSC lens to the closed
state if the operation mode decision unit decides that the
operation mode is currently that of the DVC.
If the operation mode decision unit decides that the operation mode
is currently that of the DVC, the switching unit preferably turns
off the electric power to the DSC and the DSC lens.
The objects and advantages are further substantially realized by
providing a DSC lens control method for a combination camera,
wherein the method comprises the steps of (a) checking a position
of a DSC lens if electric power is applied to the combination
camera combining both a digital still camera (DSC) and a digital
video camera (DVC), and (b) switching the DSC lens to a closed
state if the DSC lens is decided to be open.
Preferably, the DSC lens control method further comprises a step of
(c) deciding if an operation mode is currently that of the DSC or
the DVC, wherein the step (b) switches the DSC lens to the closed
state if the step (c) decides that the operation mode is currently
that of the DVC.
Preferably, the DSC lens control method further comprises a step of
(d) turning off the electric power applied to the DSC and the DSC
lens if the step (c) decides that the operation mode is currently
that of the DVC.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages are further
substantially realized by providing a combination camera combining
both a digital still camera (DSC) and a digital video camera (DVC)
comprising a storage unit for storing an open or closed state of a
DSC lens while in an operation mode of the DSC, a state decision
unit for deciding the state of the DSC lens through the storage
unit if electric power is applied while in an operation mode of the
DVC, and a switching unit for switching the DSC lens to a closed
state if the state decision unit decides that the DSC lens is
open.
The storage unit is preferably implemented in an electrically
erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM).
Further, the switching unit preferably switches the DSC lens to the
closed state by applying the electric power to the DSC.
The objects and advantages are further substantially realized by
providing a DSC lens control method for a combination camera,
wherein the method comprises steps of (a) storing an open or closed
state of a DSC lens while in an operation mode of the DSC of the
combination camera combining both a digital still camera (DSC) and
a digital video camera (DVC), (b) deciding the state of the DSC
lens based on information stored in the step (a) if electric power
is applied while in an operation mode of the DVC, and (c) switching
the DSC lens to the closed state if the step (b) decides that the
DSC lens is open.
The step (a) preferably stores the open or closed state of the DSC
lens in an EEPROM.
Preferably, the step (c) switches the DSC lens to the closed state
by applying the electric power to the DSC.
Therefore, the combination camera according to the present
invention can efficiently control the DSC lens when the electric
power is applied while in the DVC mode after the power is turned
off when the DSC lens has been open.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above aspects and features of the present invention will become
more apparent by describing certain embodiments of the present
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing a combination camera
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flow chart for showing a DSC lens control method for
the combination camera of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for showing a combination camera
according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a flow chart for showing a DSC lens control method for
the combination camera of FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood
to refer to like parts, components and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, a description will be made in detail of a combination
camera and a DSC lens control method using the same with reference
to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, same
drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in
different drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as
detailed construction and element descriptions, are provided to
assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Also,
functions or constructions well known to those skilled in the art
are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing a combination camera
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the
combination camera has a digital video camera (DVC) picture-taking
part 110, a DVC signal processing unit 120, a digital still camera
(DSC) image-capturing part 130, a DSC signal processing unit 140, a
DSC encoder/decoder (CODEC) unit 145, a microphone 150, a video
signal processing unit 160, a display part 170, a video cassette
recorder (VCR) part 180, a memory card 190, a PC interface unit
200, a control part 210, a manipulation unit 220, a flash memory
230, and a system bus 240.
The DVC picture-taking part 110 uses a photoelectric conversion to
convert an optical signal coming in through a lens into an electric
signal, and performs certain signal processing on the converted
signal. The DVC picture-taking part 110 can take both moving
pictures and still images. However, the still images captured by
the DVC picture-taking part 110 have poor image quality when
compared to the still images captured by the DSC image-capturing
part 130, which will be described in greater detail below. Thus,
the DVC picture-taking part 110 is mainly used to take moving
pictures.
The DVC picture-taking part 110 is provided with a DVC lens unit
111, a DVC lens driving unit 113, a DVC charge coupled device (CCD)
unit 115, and a DVC correlated double sampler (CDS)/auto gain
controller (AGC)/analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 117.
The DVC lens driving unit 113 drives the DVC lens unit 111
according to the controls of the control part 210. In detail, the
DVC lens driving unit 113 zooms the DVC lens unit 111 in and out
according to the controls of the control part 210, automatically
controls the focal point, and controls the opening and closing of
an iris provided over the DVC lens unit 111.
The DVC CCD unit 115 converts an optical image focused through the
DVC lens unit 111 into an electric signal output. That is, an
optical image of an object is focused on the photosensitive surface
of the DVC CCD unit 115 by the DVC lens unit 111, and the DVC CCD
unit 115 converts the optical image focused on the photosensitive
surface into an electric signal, and then outputs an electric
signal in the one-dimensional form by horizontal and vertical
scanning.
The DVC CDS/AGC/ADC 117 removes noise from a signal output from the
DVC CCD unit 115 by using the correlated double sampler (CDS),
controls a gain by using the automatic gain controller (AGC) in
order to maintain a constant signal level, and converts the signal
into a digital signal by using the analog-to-digital converter
(ADC).
The DVC signal processing unit 120 performs certain signal
processing on a signal applied from the DVC picture-taking part
110, and applies the signal to the video signal processing unit
160. In detail, the DVC signal processing unit 120 separates the
applied signal into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal,
carries out gain adjustment, outline correction, and automatic
white balance (AWB), and the like, and changes resolution.
The microphone 150 converts sound coming from an exterior source
into an electric signal.
The video signal processing unit 160 applies a video signal
processed in the DVC signal processing unit 120 to the display part
170. The video signal processing unit 160 inputs from the control
part 210 a user's `picture-taking or image-capturing command` that
is input through the manipulation unit 220, and compresses an
output signal of the DVC signal processing unit 120 into a signal
having a DV format according to the input picture-taking or
image-capturing command.
Further, the video signal processing unit 160 converts an output
signal of the microphone 150 into a digital signal, and compresses
the converted signal into a signal having a PCM format. The video
signal processing unit 160 applies the compressed signal to the VCR
part 180 for recording according to the controls of the control
part 210.
If the combination camera operates in the `VCR reproducing mode`,
the video signal processing unit 160 inputs the compressed video
signal from the VCR part 180 for reproducing according to the
controls of the control part 210. Further, the video signal
processing unit 160 decompresses and applies the compressed input
video signal to the display part 170.
The DSC image-capturing part 130 uses a photoelectric conversion to
convert an optical signal coming in through the lens into an
electric signal and carries out certain signal processing on the
converted signal. The DSC image-capturing part 130 can take both
moving pictures and still images. However, the data size for a
moving picture taken by the DSC image-capturing part 130 is much
larger than that for a moving picture taken by the DVC
picture-taking part 110. Thus, the data for the moving picture
needs substantially more storage space when stored in a recording
medium and it becomes difficult to take moving pictures for a long
period of time. Accordingly, the DSC image-capturing part 130 is
mainly used to capture still images.
The DSC image-capturing part 130 has a DSC lens unit 131, a DSC
lens driving unit 133, a DSC CCD unit 135, and a DSC CDS/AGC/ADC
137.
The DSC lens driving unit 133 drives the DSC lens unit 131
according to the controls of the control part 210. In detail, the
DSC lens driving unit 133 zooms the DSC lens unit 131 in and out
according to the controls of the control part 210, automatically
controls a focal point, and adjusts the opening or closing amount
of the iris (not shown) provided over the DSC lens unit 131. The
DSC lens zooms in to take an enlarged picture of an object, and
zooms out to take a regular picture of the object. The `DSC lens
open state` refers to a combined state of the zoom-in and zoom-out
of the DSC lens for taking pictures of an object by using the DSC
image-capturing part 130 of a combination camera, and the `DSC lens
closed state` refers to a shut state preventing the taking of
pictures of an object by using the DSC image-capturing part
130.
The DSC CCD unit 135 converts an optical image coming in through
the DSC lens unit 131 into an electric signal for output.
The DSC CDS/AGC/ADC 137 removes noise from a signal output from the
DSC CCD unit 135 by using the CDS, controls a gain in order to
maintain a constant signal level by using the AGC, and converts the
signal into a digital signal by using the ADC.
The DSC signal-processing unit 140 carries out certain signal
processing on a signal input from the DSC image-capturing part 130.
In detail, the DSC signal-processing unit 140 separates an input
signal into a luminance (Y) signal and a chrominance (C) signal,
performs gain adjustment, outline correction, AWB, and the like,
and changes resolution.
The DSC CODEC 145 applies a video signal processed in the DSC
signal-processing unit 140 to the display part 170.
If the DSC CODEC 145 receives from the control part 210 a user's
`taking-picture command` that is input through the manipulation
unit 220, the DSC CODEC 145 compresses an output signal of the DSC
signal-processing unit 140 into a signal having a JPEG format.
Further, the DSC CODEC 145 stores the compressed signal in the
memory card 190 according to the controls of the control part
210.
If the combination camera operates in the `memory card reproducing
mode`, the DSC CODEC 145 receives a compressed video signal from
the memory card 190 for reproducing according to the controls of
the control part 210. Further, the DSC CODEC 145 decompresses and
applies the input compressed video signal to the display part
170.
The display part 170 displays images output from the video signal
processing unit 160 and the DSC CODEC 145. To perform such a
function, the display part 170 fef can have an On Screen Display
(OSD) unit 171, a National Television System Committee/Phase
Alternation Line (NTSC/PAL) encoder 173, and a Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD) unit 175.
The OSD unit 171 stores OSD characters, GUI data such as menu views
necessary to build Graphic User Interface (GUI) environment, and so
forth. The OSD unit 171 can add the OSD characters or the GUI data
to an image output from the video signal processing unit 160 and
the DSC CODEC 145 according to the controls of the control part
210.
The NTSC/PAL encoder 173 converts a video signal of the OSD unit
171 into a video signal of NTSC format or PAL format, and applies
the converted video signal to the LCD unit 175 or an external
TV.
The LCD unit 175 is a display device for displaying images applied
from the NTSC/PAL encoder 173.
The VCR part 180 records a video signal output from the video
signal processing unit 160, or reads and applies the recorded video
signal to the video signal processing unit 160. The VCR part 180
has a VCR deck unit 181 and a VCR tape 183.
The VCR tape 183 is a magnetic recording medium for recording a
video signal thereon, and can be inserted into or ejected from the
VCR deck unit 181.
The VCR deck unit 181 records a video signal from the video signal
processing unit 160 on the VCR tape 183, or reads and applies a
video signal of the VCR tape 183 to the video signal processing
unit 160.
The memory card 190 is a recording medium for recording a video
signal of the DSC CODEC 145 therein, and can be inserted into and
removed from the combination camera.
The PC interface unit 200 interfaces with an external personal
computer (PC) or a printer (not shown).
The control part 210 controls the overall operations of the
combination camera according to a user's manipulation commands that
are input through the manipulation unit 220. In particular, the
control part 210 controls either of the DVC picture-taking part 110
and the DSC image-capturing part 130 to take images according to a
user's setting. The control part 210 has a main controller 211 and
a DSC controller 213.
The main controller 211 inputs a user's manipulation commands
through the manipulation unit 220 and accordingly, controls the
operations of the DVC lens driving unit 113, the DVC signal
processing unit 120, video signal processing unit 160, OSD unit
171, VCR deck unit 181, and PC interface unit 200. Further, the
main controller 211 controls the control operations of the DSC
controller 213. Furthermore, the main controller 211 includes an
operation mode decision unit 211A for deciding what mode is used
for the DVC picture-taking part 110 or the DSC image-capturing part
130 when electric power is applied to the combination camera. If
the power is applied to the combination camera, the operation mode
decision unit 211A decides whether the combination camera is in the
DVC picture-taking mode or the DSC image-capturing mode when the
power is initially applied.
The DSC controller 213 controls the operations of the DSC lens
driving unit 133, DSC signal-processing unit 140, and DSC CODEC 145
according to the controls of the main controller 211. The DSC
controller 213 has a lens position check unit 213A and a switching
unit 213B.
If the power is applied to the combination camera, the lens
position check unit 213A checks the position of the DSC lens. That
is, if the power is applied to the combination camera, the lens
position check unit 213A checks whether the DSC lens is zoomed in
or out. If the DSC lens is determined to be zoomed in, the lens
position check unit 213A decides that the DSC lens is open. If the
DSC lens is determined to be zoomed out, the lens position check
unit 213A checks whether the DSC lens is open or closed through the
DSC lens unit 131. The opening or closing of the DSC lens can be
checked through the opening or closing of the iris of the DSC lens
unit 131.
If the lens position check unit 213A decides that the DSC lens is
open, the switching unit 213B switches the DSC lens to the closed
state. If the operation mode decision unit 211A decides that the
operation mode of the combination camera is the DVC picture-taking
mode, it is preferable that the switching unit 213B switches the
DSC lens to the closed state. At this time, if the combination
camera is used in the DSC image-capturing mode, the DSC lens unit
131 generally causes the DSC lens to zoom out, so it is preferable
that the switching unit 213B switches the DSC lens to the zoom-out
state and then to the closed state through the DSC lens driving
unit 133. Further, if the lens position check unit 213A determines
that the DSC lens is in the zoom-out state, it is preferable that
the switching unit 213B switches the DSC lens to the closed state,
keeping the DSC lens in the zoom-out state.
The flash memory 230 stores system programs, such as a booting
program needed in the main controller 211, that are necessary to
operate the camera, and other data and application programs which
have to be maintained even during power failure.
The manipulation unit 220 is a user interface unit for inputting
manipulation commands related to function selection and operation
control of the combination camera.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart for showing a DSC lens control method for
the combination camera of FIG. 1. A description will now be made in
detail of the DSC lens control method for the combination camera of
FIG. 1 with reference to FIG. 2.
If the power is applied to the combination camera at step (S201),
the lens position check unit 213A of the DSC controller 213 checks
the position of the DSC lens through the DSC lens unit 131 or the
DSC lens driving unit 133 at step (S203). The lens position check
unit 213A decides whether the DSC lens has been zoomed out or in.
If the DSC lens has been zoomed in, the lens position check unit
213A decides that the DSC lens is open. If the DSC lens has been
zoomed out, the lens position check unit 213A decides whether the
iris of the DSC lens is open or closed through the DSC lens unit
131 to thereby identify whether the DSC lens is open or closed.
If the lens position check unit 213A determines that the DSC lens
is open at step (S205), the operation mode decision unit 211A
decides whether the operation mode of the combination camera is in
the DVC picture-taking mode or in the DSC image-capturing mode at
step (S207). In the flow chart of FIG. 2, if the lens position
check unit 213A decides that the DSC lens is open, the operation
mode decision unit 211A is shown to then decide the operation mode
of the combination camera at step (S207), however, the lens
position check unit 213A can also be configured to check the
position of the DSC lens after the operation mode decision unit
211A first decides the operation mode of the combination
camera.
If the operation mode decision unit 211A decides that the operation
mode of the combination camera is that of the DVC picture-taking
mode at step (S209), the switching unit 213B of the DSC controller
213 applies the power to the DSC image-capturing part 130 at step
(S211), and controls the DSC lens driving unit 133 to switch the
DSC lens to the closed state at step (S213). Further, after the DSC
lens is closed, the switching unit 213B turns off the power to the
DSC image-capturing part 130 to conserve the power of the
combination camera at step (S215).
If the DSC lens is decided to be open and the operation mode
decision unit 211A decides that the operation mode of the
combination camera is not that of the DVC picture-capturing mode,
that is, that the operation mode of the combination camera is that
of the DSC picture-capturing mode, after the power is applied to
the combination camera, the operation mode decision unit 211A
maintains the power applied to the DSC image-capturing part 130 so
that the DSC image-capturing part 130 proceeds with capturing
images at step (S217).
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for showing a combination camera
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 3, the combination camera has the DVC picture-taking part
110, DVC signal processing unit 120, DSC image-capturing part 130,
DSC signal-processing unit 140, DSC CODEC 145, microphone 150,
video signal processing unit 160, display part 170, VCR part 180,
memory card 190, PC interface unit 200, control part 210,
manipulation unit 220, flash memory 230, EEPROM 235, and system bus
240. For the combination camera according to the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 3, like components are denoted by
like reference numerals, and the operations and functions which are
the same as those described above are omitted from the description
below.
The main controller 211 has a state decision unit 211b and a
switching unit 211c. The state decision unit 211b communicates with
the EEPROM 235 when the power is applied while in the DVC operation
mode, and decides whether the DSC lens is open or closed according
to information stored on the EEPROM 235.
If the state decision unit 211b decides that the DSC lens is open,
the switching unit 211c switches the DSC lens to the closed
state.
If the combination camera operates in the DSC image-capturing mode,
the EEPROM 235 stores the open or closed state of the DSC lens and
the zoom-in or zoom-out state of the DSC lens. That is, if while in
the DSC image-capturing mode, a user switches the DSC lens to the
zoom-in or the zoom-out state or switches the operation mode of the
combination camera to the DVC picture-taking mode, the EEPROM 235
stores the zoom-in or zoom-out state and the open or closed state
of the DSC lens.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart for showing a DSC lens control method for
the combination camera of FIG. 3. A description will be made in
detail with reference to FIG. 4 of the operations and functions of
the combination camera according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
If the DSC lens is switched from the zoom-in state to the zoom-out
state while in the DSC image-capturing mode of the combination
camera, or if the mode of the combination camera is switched from
the DSC image-capturing mode to the DVC picture-taking mode, the
main controller 211 stores the zoom-in or the zoom-out state and
the open or closed state of the DSC lens into the EEPROM 235 at
step (S401). If the DSC lens is zoomed in, the main controller 211
decides that the DSC lens is open. If the DSC lens is zoomed out,
the main controller 211 decides whether the DSC lens is open or
closed through the DSC lens unit 131.
If the combination camera is turned off and then turned on in the
DVC picture-capturing mode at step (S403), the state decision unit
211b decides the present state of the DSC lens based on the state
information of the DSC lens stored in the EEPROM 235 at step
(S405). That is, if the zoom-in state is stored for the DSC lens
before the combination camera is turned off, the state decision
unit 211b decides that the present state of the DSC lens is open.
Further, if the DSC lens is zoomed out before the combination
camera is turned off and the closed state is stored in the EEPROM
235 for the DSC lens, the state decision unit 211b decides that the
DSC lens is closed.
If the state decision unit 211b decides that the DSC lens is open
at step (S407), the switching unit 211c applies power to the DSC
image-capturing part 130 at step (S409) so as to switch the DSC
lens to the closed state at step (S411), and, after the DSC lens is
switched to the closed state, then turns off the DSC
image-capturing part 130 so as to cut off the power to the DSC
image-capturing part 130 at step (S413).
Thus, according to embodiments of the present invention, if the
power is applied in the DVC mode after the combination camera is
turned off when the DSC lens has been open, the combination camera
can efficiently switch the DSC lens to the closed state.
Accordingly, the present invention can be used to thereby eliminate
a user's inconvenience of using the DVC picture-taking mode during
the open state of the DSC lens, or the inconvenience of switching
the mode to the DSC image-capturing mode to close the DSC lens and
then switching the mode to the DVC picture-capturing mode for
use.
The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and
are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The
present invention can be readily applied to other types of
apparatuses. Also, the description of the embodiments of the
present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit
the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *
References